Recording device



Nov. 26, 1968 G. J- GREENE, JR 3,413,650

RECORDING DEVICE Filed May 6, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Geo/ ye, J 6 ee/7e, J21

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wan/WW 6 W 4770 IVEYJ Nov. 26, 1968 5. J. GREENE, JR 3,413,650

RECORDING DEVICE Filed May 6, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 George J fleen'gd [NVENTOR BY 6. Edluuud yaw ATTOIP/VE VJ Nov. 26, 1968 5. J. GREENE, JR 3,413,650

RECORDING DEVICE Filed May 6, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Geo/ye J Greene, J

MM W A770 A/EYJ United States Patent 3,413,650 RECORDING DEVICE George J. Greene, Jr., Shreveport, La., assignor, by mesue assignments, to U.G.C. Industries, Inc., a corporation of Texas Filed May 6, 1966, Ser. No. 548,108 12 Claims. (Cl. 346--33) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A recording device for recording drilling operations and having a chart and a chart drive moving the chart in one direction responsive to the downward movement of the kelly joint of the drill string, means to disengage the chart drive from the kelly joint when the drill string supporting means supports a minimum weight, a primary pen and pen drive, a second pen adapted to engage and mark on the chart responsive to the weight supported by said supporting means and a third pen adapted to engage and mark on said chart responsive to drilling fluid pressure, and a memory means interposed between a cam shaft and the kelly joint whereby lifting of the kelly joint actuates a cam on the cam shaft to release the drive on the primary pen and the memory means requires the same downward travel of the kelly joint as it is lifted before the primary pen drive becomes active.

The present invention relates to a new and improved recorder for well drilling operations.

Prior drilling recorders have required that the driller turn on and shut off the recorders manually when drilling is commenced and terminated. Other prior recorders have required external power, such as electricity, for operation and such external power is often not readily available at drilling sites.

An object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved device for automatically recording drilling operations.

Another object is to provide a new and improved device for automatically recording the rate of drilling, together with other drilling operations, which does not require external power.

Still another object is to provide a new and improved drilling rate recorder which automatically shuts itself off when a new string of drill pipe is added to the drill string and includes a means to restart the recording functions when the drill bit bottoms in the 'Well bore.

A further object is 'to provide an automatic recording device for well drilling which requires the drillers attention only on start-up or when a section of drill pipe is replaced by another section of drill pipe having a different length and records drilling rate against the depth of the well bore drilled, the weight on the bit and the activity of the drilling fluid circulating pump.

A still further object is to provide a new and improved drilling rate recorder adapted to record drilling operations responsive to the movement of the kelly joint during drilling. Other objects, features and advantages will be apparent from the drawings, the specifications and the claims.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a schematic elevation view of the drilling equipment with which the device of the present invention is used;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the recording device of the present invention with the case in which the device is installed omitted for purposes of clarity;

FIGURE 3 is a partial exploded perspective view of the memory means for the strip chart roller shaft and the means for de-activating the drilling rate pen;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view of the memory means for the drilling rate pen;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view of the pen for recording the operation of the drilling fluid circulating pump;

FIGURE 6 is a bottom view of weight-on-bit pen showing the pen block partly in section; and

FIGURE 7 is an elevation view of the weight-on-bit pen Shown in FIGURE 6.

In all recording instruments two variables are present with which recordings are made. First, is the chart movement and second, is the pen movement. To establish drilling rate, it is necessary to have one of these movements made responsive to the depth of drilling and the other of these movements to be made in response to time taken to drill pre-selected increments of depth. In the preferred embodiment illustrated in the drawings the chart is adapted to move solely responsive to the progress of drilling and the pen is adapted to move responsive to the time taken to drill a pre-selected increment of depth.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the recording device R of the present invention is shown in FIGURE 1 in relation to the usual drilling equipment used for the drilling of a petroleum well. Such drilling equipment includes a derrick D positioned on the substructure P over the site at which a well is to be drilled. The crown block C is supported in the upper part of the derrick D. The cable E extends from a direct connection to the substructure P or the lower part of the derrick D over the crown block C and loops around the traveling block T and crown block C to provide the desired mechanical advantage. The cable E connects to the usual draw works (not shown). The vertical movement of the traveling block T is controlled by the take up or pay out of the cable E on the draw works. The traveling block T supports the swivel S and the kelly joint K which is adapted to extend through the rotary table B and connect to the drill string within the well bore. The rotary table B is adapted to rotate the kelly joint K and to allow sliding movement of the kelly joint K downward therethrough during drilling.

Fluid from a drilling fluid circulating pump (not shown) is conducted through the fluid circulating line F and the swivel S into the kelly joint to be delivered into the well bore in the usual manner. The line 10 connects from the fluid circulating line F to the recording device R to provide an indication of the activity of the fluid circulating pump as hereinafter more completely described. The weight-on-bit sensing device W is connected into the deadline A of the cable E. The device W provides the means for sensing the weight supported by the traveling block T and may be a hydraulic unit which responds to the tension in the deadline A. The weight-on-bit device W is connected to the recording device R by the line 12.

To transmit the vertical travel of the kelly joint K to the recording device R a small wire line 14 connects from the upper end of the swivel S over the pulley 16 positioned near the top of the derrick D and to the recording device R.

The recording device R is more clearly illustrated in detail in FIGURE 2. Therein a strip chart 18 is shown and is adapted to be moved in the direction of the arrow. The movement of the strip chart 18 is powered by the chart drive roller 20. The idling roller 22 is suitably mounted (not shown) to hold the strip chart 18 tightly against the chart drive roller 20 so that any rotation of the chart drive roller 20 is translated to a longitudinal movement of the strip chart.

A suitable means is provided to connect the chart drive roller to the upper end of the kelly joint K so that the chart 18 moves only responsive to the normal downward drilling movement of the kelly joint K. Thus, the longitudinal movement of the strip chart 18 is a measure of the depth of the well bore as the drilling proceeds. The Wire line 14 passes over the sheave 24 mounted on the shaft 26 and is wound around the take-up reel 2 which is loaded to maintain a light tension in the wire line 14. Suitable bearings 30 supported by the case in which the recording device is mounted, such support not being shown, are provided on the shaft 26 to allow freedom of rotation of the shaft 26 responsive to rotational movement imparted thereto by the coaction between the wire line 14 and the sheave 24. The shaft 26 is releasably connected to the shaft 32 by the releasable engaging means 34. The rotation of the shaft 32 is transmitted by the gears 36 and 38 to the shaft 40 which is connected through shaft 41 to the chart drive roller 20. The shaft 40 is supported by the bearings 42. The overrunning clutch mechanism 44 is mounted on the shaft 40. The memory means 46 provides the connection between the shaft 40 and the shaft 41 on which the chart drive roller is mounted, and the means 48 preventing reverse rotation of the chart drive roller 20 is mounted on the shaft 41 at the opposite side of the chart drive roller 20 from the memory means 46. Thus, as the kelly joint K moves downward during drilling operations, this movement is transmitted by the connecting means to rotate the chart drive roller 20. The means 48 may be a suitable clutch allowing free rotation of the shaft 41 in one direction but, by direct attachment to the recorder case or other available structure (not shown), preventing a rotation of the shaft 41 in the reverse direction.

The releasable engaging means 34 between the shaft 26 and the shaft 32 is a clutch which is engaged and disengaged by the pivoting of the lever 50 about the pivot pin 52. The opposite end of the lever 50 is connected to the actuator 54. Fluid pressure from the weight-on-bit sensing device W is conducted through the line 12 to the actuator. The spring 56 connects to the lever 50 and to a suitable portion of the case (not shown) to bias the lever in a direction around the pivot pin 52 to disengage the clutch 34. Additionally, the handle 58 engages the lever 50 to manually disengage the engaging means 34 for reasons hereinafter more fully described. Whenever the weight-on-bit sensing device W supplies suflicient pressure through the line 12 to the actuator 54 to overcome the force of the spring 56, the releasable engaging means 34 is engaged. The extension of the actuator 54 is responsive to fluid pressure from line 12 moves the lever 50 into engaging position.

To provide a recording of drilling rate, the downward motion of the kelly joint K is transmitted to the drilling rate recording unit (hereinafter described) by suitable connecting means. Such means includes the shaft 32 which is rotatably supported by the bearing 60. The shaft 32 also includes the bevel gear 62 in engagement with the hand-operated gear 64, the memory means 66 which connects between shaft 60 and shaft 67, a means 68 for preventing reverse rotation of the shaft, a counter 70 and the cams 72 and 74 which control the operation of the drilling rate pen 76.

The drilling rate pen 76, which is to record drilling rate on the strip chart 18, is slidably mounted on the mounting pins 78 for lateral movement across the strip chart 18 and in adapted to engage the strip chart 18 to provide the continuous record of drilling rate thereon.

A suitable means is provided to position the pen 76 on the chart 18 to record such drilling rate. Such means includes the rack 80 which is driven by the pinion 82 and the arm 84 which is actuated by the cam 74. The pinion 82 is driven through the clutch mechanism 86 by the constant speed drive motor 88. The lever 90 pivots about the pin 92 and is actuated by th a 72 t di gage the clutch 86. The rack is driven in a direction from upper left to lower right in FIGURE 2 by the pinion 82 and motor 88. When the clutch 86 is released by the actuation of the lever responsive to the cam surface on the cam 72, the pinion 82 thereafter is free to rotate and the rack 80 is moved from lower right to upper left by the spring 94. The constant speed drive motor 88 therefore only has to overcome the force exerted by the spring 94 and may be a clock drive motor or a battery powered motor, both of which are completely self-contained and require no external power for operation other than an occasional winding or replacement of batteries. The spring loaded rollers 96 and 98 urge the rack upwardly into engagement With the pinion 82. If desired, the rack 80 and pinion 82 may be replaced by a friction drive arrangement including an elongated member with a flat surface and a Wheel frictionally engaging and driving the member.

Since the pen 76 is slidably mounted on the mounting pins 78 a means is provided to assure that the pen 76 is in engagement with rack 80 immediately before the rack 80 is released for return to starting position. This means is provided by the arm 84 which pivots about the pin 100. The spring 102 urges the arm 84 outwardly away from the pen 76. The link 104 engages the arm 84 and responsive to its engagement with the cam 74 periodically moves the arm counterclockwise to urge the pen 76 against the end of the rack 80. On release from the cam 74 the spring 102 returns the arm 84 in a clockwise direction against the outermost stop 106 on the pins 78.

Thus, the rack is driven a distance directly related to the time taken to drill the well bore a distance corresponding to the circumference of the sheave 24 engaged by the wire line 14, assuming that the earns 72 and 74 are adapted to be actuated once during every revolution of the shaft 67. It is convenient in normal drilling operations to construct the sheave 24 to have a circumference of one foot, for example. Thus, with the constant speed drive of the motor 88, the rack 80 displaces the pen 76, a distance corresponding to the time it takes to drill one foot. The use of the cam 74 and its actuation of the arm 84 assures that at the end of each foot drilled, the pen 76 is moved into engagement with the end of the rack 80. This action of the drilling rate pen 76, therefore, provides a continuous plot of the drilling rate without the necessity of returning the pen 7-6 to the starting or base line for each incremental unit of drilling completed. The circumference of sheave 24, the speed of motor 88 and the available travel of pen 76 are all taken into account to pre-select suitable increments of drilling which are to be incorporated into the drilling rate recording on the chart 18.

As best shown in FIGURE 3, the shaft 40 is connected to the shaft 41 by the memory means 46. The plate 45 is secured to the end of shaft 40 to rotate therewith. The pins 45a and 45b are secured to the plate 45 to be diametrically opposite each other with respect to the shaft 40. The pins extend toward the shaft 41 in generally parallel relationship to the axis of shaft 40. The plate 45 and shaft 40 are recessed to slidingly receive the reduced end portion 41a of the shaft 41. The collar 47 is secured around the shaft 41 and includes the two arms 47a and 47b projecting radially therefrom. When the memory means 46 is assembled, the portion 41a of shaft 41 is received in the recess defined by plate 45 and shaft 40 so that the arms 47a and 47b engage the pins 45a and 45b. From this it can be seen that with a forward rotation of shaft 40 responsive to the lowering of the kelly joint K during drilling, the shaft 40 drives the shaft 41 through engagement of the pins 45a and 45b with the arms 47a and 47b. Whenever shaft 40 reverses direction of rotation, approximately 180 degrees of reverse rotatron may be rnade by shaft 40 before the arms 45a and 45b and pins 471: and 47b again engage. Assuming that shaft 40 has a reverse rotation of degrees, a forward rotation of the same amount (120 degrees) is required before the shaft 40 resumes its driving of the shaft 41. Thus, it can be said that the means 46 remembers the exact amount of reverse rotation and requires the exact same amount of forward rotation before the driving connection is actuated. If desired, a single arm and pin may be used and thereby allow approximately a full revolution of reverse rotation. The gear reduction of the gears 36 and 38 normally is such that the lifting of the 'kelly joint K to add one or more sections to the drill string does not cause a reverse rotation of the shaft 40 beyond the available capacity of the memory means 46. Thus, the memory means 46 during operation of the recording device remembers how far the drill bit is lifted from the bottom of the well bore and does not allow rotation of the chart drive roller until the bit has been lowered the same distance to assure that the drill bit is at the bottom of the well bore.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the memory means 66, which connects from one end of the shaft 32 to the shaft 67, includes a disc 108 secured to the shaft 32 and surrounding the reduced end portion 110 of the shaft 32, the disc 112 'which surrounds the end of the shaft 67 and a plurality of discs 114 positioned on portion 110 between disc 108 and disc 112. The number of discs 114 used is decided upon the degree of memory desired as hereinafter described. Each of the discs 114 is provided with a central recess and is adapted to be received on the reduced portion 110 of the shaft 132 and is free to rotate thereon. The reduced portion 110 of shaft 32 is received in the recess 116 in the end of the shaft 67 which is surrounded by the disc 112. Each of the discs 108, 112 and 114 is provided with a finger 118 connected to the outer periphery of the disc and extending in a direction toward the shaft 32. The discs, when mounted with all of the fingers 118 in proper engagement, are adapted to provide a driving engagement between shaft 32 and shaft 67 when shaft 32 is rotated in one direction and to allow reverse rotation of shaft 32 independent of shaft 67 approximately one full revolution for each of the discs 114 involved.

After a reverse rotation of the shaft 32, the forward rotation of the shaft 32 continues without driving the shaft 67 until the same number of revolutions of the shaft 32 have occurred as the number of prior reverse revolutions thereof. Thus, the memory means 66, in effect, remembers how many reverse revolutions are made by the shaft 32 and allows free rotation of the shaft 32 independent of the shaft 67 for the same number of revolutions as the number of reverse revolutions before commencing to drive the shaft 67.

To assist the memory means 66, the means 68 is provided to prevent a reverse rotation of the shaft '67. Such means may be a suitable clutch allowing free rotation of the shaft 67 in one direction but, by direct attachment to recorder case or other structure available, preventing rotation of the shaft 67 in the reverse or undesired direction. The means 68, therefore, functions as a bearing support for the shaft 67. A suitable bearing (not shown) is positioned at the end of shaft 67 beyond the cam 74 for adequate rotational support.

The counter 70 is connected to the shaft 67 to count the number of revolutions of rotation of the shaft 67. Thus, it can be seen when the outer circumference of the sheave 24 is one foot, each revolution of the shaft 67 corresponds to one foot of drilling; and the counter 70, by counting the number of revolutions of shaft 67, registers the depth of the well bore being drilled in feet.

A means is provided to disengage the actuation of the recording pen 76 responsive to reverse rotations of shaft 40. Such means includes the overr-unning clutch 44, which is mounted on the shaft 40, and is adapted to be unaffected by the normal rotations of the shaft but to be actuated by a reverse rotation thereof. Actuation of the clutch 44 moves the connecting rod 120 which moves the bell crank 122 about its pivot 124. The connecting rod is pivotally mounted to the plate 121 secured to the clutch 44. Since plate 121 may rotate approximately 180 degrees, the coupling 120a in rod 120 is spring loaded to exert a force on bell crank 122 for the complete movement of plate 121 which may be rotated through almost 180 degrees. This movement causes the fixed pinion 126 to engage the rack 80 forcing the rack downwardly out of engagement with the pinion 82 and thereby stopping the movement of the rack 80 at all times while the shaft 40 is turning in the reverse direction. Whenever the shaft 40 resumes its desired direction of rotation, the clutch 44 is released allowing the fixed pinion 126 to be lifted up above the rack 80 so that the rack 80 returns to engagement with the pinion 82 responsive to the urging of the spring-loaded roller supports 96 and 98 and the plot of drilling rate is recommenced.

To provide a record of the weight-on-bit during drilling, the line from the weight-on-bit sensing device W, in addition to connecting to the actuator 54, also actuates the pen 128 by its connection to the actuator 130. As shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, the pen 128 is adapted to normally engage the strip chart 18 at all times with actuation of the pen 128 being made responsive to the output pressure from the weight-on-bit sensing device W. For this reason, the actuator 130 defines a cylindrical chamber 132 with the spring-loaded, movable piston 134 positioned therein. The piston 134 move-s responsive to changes in pressure within the chamber 132. The pen 128 is pivotally mounted to actuator 130 at 136 and is connected to the piston 134 whereby movement of the piston 134 directly controls the movement of the pen 128. If desired, the pen 128 may be actuated by a suitable bellows structure which is responsive to the output pressure of the sensing device W.

To provide a record of the operation of the drilling fluid circulating pump during drilling, the line 10 from the fluid circulating line F connects into the block 138 to actuate the recording pen 139. The block 138 is slidably supported on the rods 140 which extend through the holes 142 in block 138. Additionally, the constant speed drive motor 144, which may be a clock drive, is connected by the double-threaded screw 146 through the block 138. Rotation of the screw 146 is adapted to, at a constant rate of speed, move the block 138 transversely back and forth across the strip chart 18 at a constant rate. The pressure conducted through the line 10 is suit ably reduced by a proportional pressure reducer (not shown) and conducted into the chamber 148 within the block 138. The piston 150 is positioned in the chamber 148 and is connected to the recording pen 139. The spring I 154 urges the piston upwardly to lift the pen 139 out of engagement with the strip chart 18 whenever the pressure within the chamber 148 falls below a certain predetermined minimum indicating a shut down of the circulating fluid. Thus, whenever the drilling fluid circulating system is in operation, sufficient pressure is conducted into the chamber 148 to urge the piston 150 downwardly, thereby maintaining the pen 139 in contact with the strip chart 18.

In operation, the recording device of the present inven tion normally is not engaged to operate during the initial drilling. It is generally preferred that drilling proceed without recording until the initial well bore has been drilled and the surface casing set. Thereafter, the small wire line 14 is connected to the swivel S on the kelly joint K. When the driller senses that the drill bit is on bottom, he actuates the lever 58 to disengage the releasable engaging means 34; and, with such means disengaged, rotates the handoperated gear 64 to position both the memory means 46 and the memory means 66 in driving engagement. After release of the handle 58, if there is sufficient output from sensing device W, actuator 54 moves lever 50 to cause the releasable engaging means 34 to engage. During drilling the lowering of the kelly joint K causes a movement of the wire line 14 to rotate the sheave 24 to drive the chart drive roller 20, thereby moving the chart longitudinally, to drive the shaft 67, to count the rotations of the shaft 67 on the counter 70 and to rotate the cams 72 and 74.

As drilling is commenced, the drive motor 88 rotates the pinion 82 thus driving the rack 80 transversely of the chart 18 as time passes until disengaged by the cam 72. Immediately preceding this disengagement, the cam 74 is actuated to move the pen 76 against the end of the rack 80 to properly position the pen 76 at the exact moment when the increment of drilling has been completed as indicated by the actuation of the cam 72. When the cam 72 actuates the lever 90, the clutch 86 is disengaged allowing the spring 94 to return the rack 80 to its starting position and immediately thereafter returns lever 90 to its position causing engagement of the clutch 86. The driving of the rack 80 by the pinion 82 is restarted. The disengagement of clutch 86 and return of the rack 80 occurs each time a preselected distance of well bore has been drilled. The chart drive roller 20 is rotated in direct relationship to the amount of drilling accomplished so that the longitudinal distance that pen 76 travels on the strip chart 18 is a direct measurement of the depth of the well bore drilled. Utilizing standard gear ratios for the gears 36 and 38 and a standard diameter for the chart drive roller 20, the strip chart 18 may be pre-printed to indicate the depth of the well bore throughout drilling. If desired, variations in the speed of movement of the strip chart 18 may be accomplished by changing the gear ratios between the gear 36 and the gear 38 or by changing the diameter of the chart drive roller 20.

During all drilling operations, the weight-on-bit sensing device W is connected to the actuator 54 to hold the releasable engaging means 34 in engaged position and is also connected to the block 130 to actuate the pen 128 to record the weight-on-bit during all drilling operations. Additionally, pump activity is indicated by the pen 152 on the strip chart 18. Pressure from the fluid pressure circulating system is conducted to the block 138 by the line maintaining the pen 139 in engagement with the strip chart 18. As shown in FIGURE 2, whenever the pressure of the drilling fluid is reduced, the pen 139 is lifted above the chart 18. Additionally, whenever drilling is stopped, the travel of the pen 139 transversely across the strip chart 18 continues thereby causing a displacement of the tracing of the pen 139. The displacements illustrated are generally caused by a shut-down wherein the chart drive roller is stopped and the fluid pressure is reduced so that the drilling fluid pressure indication on the chart is not marked. The displacement is caused by the fact that the drive motor 144 operates continuously and the measure of its displacement is therefore an indication of the duration of any shut-down.

During drilling, whenever it is necessary to add additional drill pipe, the drill string is lifted to remove the kelly joint. The lifting of the drill string reverses the direction of movement of the wire line 14, thus reversing the direction of rotation of the sheave 24. Since the shaft 67 is held against a reverse rotation by the means 68, the reverse rotation of the shaft 32 actuates the memory means 66. Also, reverse rotation of the shaft 40 actuates the overrunning clutch 44 to lock the drilling rate recording pen timing mechanism out of operative connection to thereby shut down further timing until forward rotation is achieved. Further, the means 48 prevents reverse rotation of the shaft 41 actuating the memory means 46.

Normally, to add sections of drill pipe to the drill string, the kelly joint K is lifted to a point above the rotary table, and the drill string therebelow is supported in the usual slip bowl. With the drill string supported in the slip bowl, the kelly joint K is disconnected, and the traveling block T lowers kelly joint K and swivel S to rest on the substructure P. The new section of pipe, normally not longer than the length of the kelly joint, is connected to the drill string. Thereafter, kelly joint K and swivel S are lifted to connect to the top of the added section of drill pipe. During the time that the drill string is supported in the slip bowl and while kelly joint K is resting on the platform and is being disconnected and reconnected, the weight-on-bit sensing device output is so low as not to be suflicient when transmitted to the actuator 54 to overcome the spring 56. This disengages the releasable engaging means 34 to disconnect the shaft 26 from the shaft 32 and rendering all functions of the recording device inoperative. The distance which the drill string is lifted in order to disconnect the kelly joint K imparts a reverse rotation to the memory means 46 and 66. This same distance of movement is required to lower the drill string back into drilling contact with the bottom of the well bore. As soon as the weight-on-bit sensing device W indicates that the drill string is supported by the traveling block, the releasable engaging means 34 again engages and provides operating connection between the shaft 26 and the shaft 32. Thereafter, the lowering of the drill string causes a forward rotation of the shaft 32 and also the shaft 40. When the drill bit is on the bottom, the memory means 46 and 66 are both in driving engagement so that continued operation of the recording device commences with the recommencement of the drilling.

Another advantage in the automatic operation of the present invention is that it can be left on during the pulling and running of the drill string when a drill bit has to be changed. The device operates in much the same manner as during its operation for the adding of sections of drill pipe previously explained. As the drill pipe is initially lifted to disconnect the kelly joint, this movement is transmitted by the wire line to the sheave 24 with the lifting movement being a reverse rotation of the shaft 26. With the kelly joint disconnected, movement of the traveling block is not transmitted to the recording device and the remainder of the drill string may be pulled without, in any way, actuating the recording device. The recording device is actuated when the kelly joint is connected to the top of the drill pipe and the weight of the drill string is supported by the traveling block.

It should be noted in the two foregoing illustrations of the operation of the device that when the shaft 40 is reversely turned resulting from at raising of the kelly joint, the overrunning clutch 44 locks the rack against further movement and, at the same time, disengages the rack 80 from the pinion 82 to allow freedom of rotation of the pinion 82 and the motor 88. At the same time, the block 138 on the drilling fluid circulating recorder continues to be actuated by the motor 144. However, whenever the pressure of the drilling fluids is reduced, as would normally be the case in pulling the drill string, the pen 139 is lifted above the strip chart 18 and the movement of the pen is not recorded.

From the foregoing it can be seen that the present invention provides a new and improved automatic recording device for drilling operations. This device records drilling rate directly and is responsive to the downward movement of the kelly joint when the drill string is supported by the traveling block. The device is inactive during upward movement of the kelly joint except that it has a means to remember the exact distance the kelly joint is lifted from a drilling position to hold the recording inactive until the kelly joint is again lowered the same distance. Thus, the recording device is completely automatic in operation in that it does not require the drillers attention to turn it on and shut it off at various stages of the drilling operation but only requires an original setting for proper operation and some minor adjusting when one section of drill pipe is substituted for another section of different length.

What is claimed is:

1. A drilling rate recorder, comprising an input shaft rotatable in both directions a chart,

a chart drive moving the chart in one direction in response to rotation of said shaft in one direction,

said chart drive including means disconnecting the drive connection when the input shaft is rotated in the other direction,

a recording pen positioner means driving said positioner at a constant rate transverse of said chart,

means for repeatedly positioning a pen in said chart against said positioner with selected degrees of rotation of said input shaft in said one direction.

2. A drilling rate recorder according to claim 1, wheresaid positioner and said pen positioning means are connected to said input shaft and responsive to rotation of said input shaft in said one direction.

3. A recording device adapted to record drilling operations on a chart during the drilling of a well bore, which drilling operations utilize 'a drill string, a kelly joint and means supporting the drilling string, comprising a chart drive to engage a chart to move said chart in one direction,

means connecting said chart drive to the kelly joint of the drill string to actuate said chart drive to move said chart in said one direction responsive to the downward movement of the kelly joint during drillmeans preventing reverse movement of said chart 'drive responsive to lifting of said kelly joint,

a sensing device sensing the Weight of the drill string supported by the supporting means,

means responsive to said sensing device to disengage said connecting means when said device senses a minimum weight of drill string s-upported'by said supporting means,

a recording pen adapted to engage said strip chart as it is driven by said chart drive,

said recording pen being responsive to the time taken to drill a preselected increment of well bore,

a second recording pen adapted to engage and mark on said chart, said second recording pen being responsive to the weight supported by said supporting means, and

a third recording pen adapted to engage and mark on said chart responsive to the drilling fluid pressure.

4. A recording device according to claim 3, wherein said third recording pen is held in marking engagement with said chart by drilling fluid pressure and biased to lift above said chart when said drilling fluid pressure is below a preselected minimum pressure.

5. A recording device adapted to record drilling operations on a chart during the drilling of a well bore, which drilling operations utilize a drill string, a kelly joint and means supporting the drilling string, comprising a chart drive adapted to engage a chart to move said chart in one direction,

means connecting said chart drive to the kelly joint of the drill string to actuate said chart drive to move said chart in saidone direction responsive to the downward movement of the kelly joint during drillmeans preventing reverse movement of said chart drive responsive to lifting of said kelly joint,

a sensing device sensing the weight of the drill string supported by the supporting means,

means responsive to said sensing device to disengage said connecting means when said device senses a minimum weight of drill string supported by said supporting means,

a recording pen adapted to engage said strip chart as it is driven by said chart drive,

said recording pen being responsive to the time taken to drill a preselected increment of well bore, and

a constant speed drive releasably connected to said recording pen,

a cam shaft,

means connecting said cam shaft to the kelly joint of said drill string to rotate said carn shaft in one direction responsive to a downward movement of said kelly joint,

a cam on said cam shaft,

means associated with said cam to release the connection between said constant speed drive and said 'recording pen responsive to a predetermined distance of downward movement of said kelly joint, and

means preventing reverse rotation of said shaft.

6. A recording device according to claim 5, including memory means interposed between said shaft connecting means and said shaft and activated responsive to a lifting of said kelly joint,

said memory means requiring the same distance of lowering of the kelly joint as the distance the kelly joint has been lifted before transmitting the downward movement of said kelly joint to said shaft.

7. A recording device according to claim 5, including means associated with said chart drive to inactivate said recording pen responsive to a lifting of said kelly joint.

8. A recording device adapted to record drilling operations on a chart during the drilling of a well bore, which drilling operations utilize a drill string, a kelly joint and means supporting the drill string, comprising a chart drive adapted to engage a chart to move said chart in one direction,

means connecting said chart drive to the kelly joint of the drill string to actuate said chart drive to move said chart in said one direction responsive to the downward movement of the kelly joint during drillmeans preventing reverse movement of said chart drive responsive to lifting of said kelly joint,

a sensing device sensing the weight of the drill string supported by the supporting means,

means responsive to said sensing device to disengage said connecting means when said device' senses a minimum weight of drill string supported by said supporting means,

a recording pen adapted to engage said strip chart as it is driven by said chart drive,

said recording pen being responsive to the time taken to drill a preselected increment of well bore, and

memory means interposed between said connecting means and said chart drive and activated responsive to a lifting of said kelly joint,

said memory means requiring the same distance of lowering of the kelly joint as the distance the kelly joint has been lifted before transmitting the downward movement of said kelly joint to said chart drive,

said memory means including,

a first shaft adapted to be driven by said connecting means,

a second shaft adapted to drive said chart drive,

said first and second shafts being in substantially axial alignment,

a plate mounted on the end of one of said shafts,

a first pin projecting from said plate toward the other of said shafts in parallel relationship to the axis of said shafts,

said pin being spaced outwardly from the axis of said shafts, and

a second pin connected to the other of said shafts and extending in a generally radial direction,

said pins adapted to provide a driving connection between said first and second shafts in one direction and a non-driving connection between said first and second shafts in the reverse direction.

'9. A recording device adapted to record drilling operations on a chart during the drilling of a well bore, which drilling operations utilize a drill string, a kelly joint and means supporting the drill string, comprising a chart drive adapted to engage a chart to move said chart in one direction,

1 1 means connecting said chart drive to the kelly joint of the drill string to actuate said chart drive to move said chart in said one direction responsive to the downward movement of the kelly joint during drillment of said kelly joint displaces said fingers an 11. The subcombination in a recording device adapted to record drilling operation of a chart during the drilling of a well bore, comprising a pen adapted to engage and mark on the chart reing, 5 sponsive to the drilling fluid pressure,

means preventing reverse movement of said chart drive said pen being held in marking engagement with said responsive to lifting of said kelly joint, chart by drilling fluid pressure and biased to lift a sensing device sensing the weight of the drill string above said chart when said drilling fluid pressure is supported by the supporting means, below a preselected minimum pressure.

means responsive to said sensing device to disengage 12. The subcombination according to claim 11 wherein said connecting means when said device senses a I said pen includes, minimum weight of drill string supported by said a ki PP g means, a block defining a recess,

a record ng pen adapted to engage sa1d strip chart as pressure responsive means positioned in said recess and F dnvefl by sa1d cimrt dl'lvei l5 connected to said marking pen,

sa1d refordmg Pen responslve to the time taken means biasing said pressure responsive means in a dito dun a Preselqcted i of Y bore rection to lift said marking pen above the chart,

means movmg.sald recordmg Pen m one dlrectlon means communicating from the drilling fluid circulatacross the smp chart li e to ad r s th -d f said res ur means periodically urging said recording pen in the 2 mg s eces on 6 S1 6 o p s opposite direction against said moving means, and reipfmslve ,means whereby when f" pressure of sa1d means returning said moving means in said opposite "5 g fl exerts force ,sufliclerft to Y direction responsive to the drilling of a preselected sa1d blasmg means sa1d markmg Pen 15 held mark dist-Inca ing engagement with said chart, and

10. A recording device according to claim 5, includmeans for driving Said block alternately back and i forth across at least a portion of said chart at a a first disc mounted on said cam shaft, constant rate of speed.

a second disc mounted on said connecting means from said cam shaft to said kelly joint, and References Cited a plurality of discs rotatably mounted between said first and second discs, UNITED STATES PATENTS each of said discs having a finger extending therefrom 2 539 753 1 1951 silverman et 1 34 12 and adapted to drivingly engage the finger of its ad- 2 931 102 4 19 1 Melton 34 33 jacent disc whereby downward movement of said 3 125 399 3 19 4 Melton 34 33 kelly joint rotates said cam shaft and upward move- 35 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner.

EDITH SIMMONS, Assistant Examiner.

amount requiring a corresponding downward movement of said kelly joint before resuming driving engagement of said fingers to drive said cam shaft. 

